P16(INK4A) immunostaining is a strong indicator for high-risk-HPV-associated oropharyngeal carcinomas and dysplasias, but is unreliable to predict low-risk-HPV-infection in head and neck papillomas and laryngeal dysplasias

Jeroen J. Mooren*, Sibel E. Gultekin, Jos M. J. A. A. Straetmans, Annick Haesevoets, Carine J. Peutz-Kootstra, Christian U. Huebbers, Hans P. Dienes, Ulrike Wieland, Frans C. S. Ramaekers, Bernd Kremer, Ernst-Jan M. Speel, Jens P. Klussmann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for the development of benign and malignant mucosal head and neck lesions. P16(INK4A) is often used as a surrogate marker for HPV-infection, although there is still controversy with respect its reliability. Our aim was to determine if P16(INK4A) overexpression can accurately predict both high-risk and low-risk-HPV-presence in (pre)malignant and benign head and neck lesions. P16(INK4A) immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 162 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC), 14 tonsillar and 23 laryngeal dysplasias, and 20 tonsillar and 27 laryngeal papillomas. PCR, enzyme-immunoassay and FISH analysis were used to assess HPV-presence and type. Of the 162 OPSCC and 14 tonsillar dysplasias, 51 (31%) and 10 (71%) were HPV16-positive, respectively. All tonsillar papillomas were HPV-negative and four laryngeal dysplasias and 26 laryngeal papillomas were positive for HPV6 or -11. P16(INK4A) immunohistochemistry revealed a strong nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in 50 out of 51 HPV16-positive and 5 out of 111 HPV-negative OPSCC (p
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2108-2117
JournalInternational Journal of Cancer
Volume134
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2014

Keywords

  • human papillomavirus
  • immunohistochemistry
  • FISH
  • PCR

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